Top Negotiator in Doha for Nuclear Talks

Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri Kani arrived in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday morning at the head of a diplomatic delegation for the resumption of talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. 
Iran’s ambassador in Doha, Hamidreza Dehqani, who received the negotiators, wished them success on Twitter in fulfilling their important mission of securing the interests of the great Iranian nation. 
The new round of negotiations center on differences between Iran and the United States and will be held with the mediation of the European Union in its capacity as coordinator of the deal. 
US special envoy for Iran Rob Malley also arrived in Doha on Monday and met with the Qatari foreign minister ahead of the talks. They reportedly agreed to explore the paths forward during the Doha talks.
Representatives from other parties to the deal, namely France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia, will not attend these talks as they involve Tehran-Washington disputes only. 
Apart from the JCPOA and related subjects, no other topic is on the agenda of the political delegations, according to ISNA. 
Talks in Doha are likely to be held in several rounds, based on hearsay. 
The deal between Iran and the six world powers offered sanctions relief to Tehran in return for restrictions on its nuclear activity, but the US abandoned the agreement four years ago and reimposed tough sanctions that prompted Iran to row back on JCPOA commitments. 
Negotiations started in Vienna, Austria, in April 2021 to work out how both countries can resume compliance with the accord. 
Despite agreement on the majority of issues over 11 months of on-and-off discussions, the talks reached a stalemate in March over a few remaining differences. 
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell could eventually break the impasse after meetings with American and Iranian officials last week which culminated in an agreement to resume the talks immediately in a trilateral format and hosted by a Persian Gulf country.
The three sides agreed to hold the talks in Qatar, who has been working behind the scenes in recent months to use its close relations with both the US and Iran to try and bridge the gaps left over from numerous rounds of talks in Vienna. 

Realistic Behavior 

A Foreign Ministry official said on Monday that “the ball is in Washington’s court and if Americans attend the talks with a suitable answer, we can move toward a final agreement.” 
Saeed Khatibzadeh also stressed that Iran’s countermeasures are all reversible provided that the other side meets its commitments in full.   
“I can confirm that agreements have been made on content and form of a deal, but whether or not the US will act based on plans remains to be seen,” he said. 
Iran demands the removal of all components of the US maximum pressure campaign, including all sanctions on individuals and entities with required guarantees of non-repetition. 
It also argues that the terror designation of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps is a part of the pressure campaign and, hence, must be revoked. 
Borrell said at the end of his visit that Iran’s demand regarding the IRGC remains a sticking point that will have to be discussed in Qatar.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has expressed hope that the US would show “realistic behavior” this time so that an agreement can be reached.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stressed at a press briefing on Monday that a diplomatic agreement is the best solution to the Iranian nuclear issue and that a mutual return to the JCPOA is in the interest of the United States and its partners.
He said, however, that “there is a deal available on the table to Iran and it is up to Iran to decide whether or not it wants to take it.” 
At the same time, some officials in Washington have complained that aside from coming back to the negotiating table, the Iranian side has not presented any dramatically different position.
The US negotiator and Qatari top diplomat said they have low expectations during their meeting, according to senior US State Department officials speaking to Axios. 
Iran’s ambassador in Doha also refrained from making any “prejudgment” or expressing “unreal pessimism or optimism.”